Cooperative Observer Awards: 2002

Thomas Jefferson Awards
Special Awards

Recognizing 46 years of dedication, the National Weather Service has named
Crosby resident John Andrist as recipient of the agency's prestigious Thomas
Jefferson Award. Pictured from left are Vern Roller, John Andrist and Jim
Fors.

John Swaine of Royal Oak, MD, received the Thomas Jefferson Award. The presentation
was made at John's home with three local TV station from
the Baltimore area covering the event. John is widely known throughout
the region as a source for local weather records. Also attending the ceremony were
reporters from The Star Democrat, and NWS Philadelphia, PA, Meteorologist
in Charge (MIC) Gary
S. Szatkowski; Data Acquisition Program
Manager (DAPM) Roy Miller; and Hydrometeorological Technician (HMT)/CPM
Jim Gross. Photo from left MIC Gary Szatkowski, John Swaine and DAPM Roy Miller.

Tad Felts, right, Observer at Phillipsburg, KS, receives a Special Service
Award on behalf of KQMA-KKAN Radio from NWS Hastings, NE, MIC Steve Schurr.
Photo by Marla K. Doxey, DAPM.

Mary Ortgessen, of Petersburg, IL, was presented with a
Special Service Award by Billy Ousley, DAPM, NWS Lincoln,
IL. Mary reads the river level of the Sangamon River at Petersburg and provides
frequent and critical data for NWS flood forecast. Her efforts were critical
during a near-record flooding event in May 2002. On many occasions during this
event, Mary had to travel several miles out of her way to reach the river gage,
due to the flooding.

HMT Karl Loeper presents a Special Service Award to George
Rupp, left.